Winter home of Americas tallest bird.   All of the whooping cranes alive today are descendants of the last 15 remaining that were found wintering in Texas in 1941.

White-tailed Deer Photo by Andrew Leggett

It has become a tradition for us to stop and visit Aransas Refuge when we travel to Rockport.  It is on the way, and just under 38 miles north of Rockport along the coast. Thanks to innovative scientists and conservation, the Refuge is world renowned for hosting the largest wild flock (the only remaining natural flock) of endangered whooping cranes each winter.   In 2005, 216 birds were counted.  According to wildlife biologists, today the number has increased and counting individual birds is no longer feasible.

The Whooping crane is the largest American bird standing nearly 5 feet tall with a 7 foot wing span.  These glorious birds dance together in flight to mate and mate for life, are elegant flyers, able to utilize wind and thermal gust without flapping their wings.  The cranes are Texans during winters in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and Canadian during summers in Wood Buffalo National Park.

We love bird watching here and have seen Whooping Cranes, Roseate Spoonbills, and Great Egrets.  During the first visit as we entered the Refuge we were greeted by an Armadillo “little fellow in armor” snacking.  On the nature trail, as we were crossing the  bridge to the observation deck near the water, I spotted a Ringtail that has “the face of a fox and the tail of a raccoon”.   We have observed many Javelina  and a very large Alligator (he looked hungry).

At the entrance, the lady that checked us in inquired about Andrew’s out-of-place accent, and informed us that she was originally from Pennsylvania but moved below the Mason Dickson line as quickly as she could???  We made our way to the two new lookout towers that wind above the trees.  After photographing the butterflies dancing around the wildflowers at the base, we climbed to the top and followed a few great egrets, but witnessed no alligators this time. We drove the 10 mile loop and did not encounter any wildlife, until two lovely White-tailed deer, took the time to pose for photographs for us as we were just about to exit.  5-25-2012